27. Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Talia

I reclined on the soft bed in my room, still enveloped in the warm afterglow of the morning's encounter with Aleksandr. His touch lingered on my skin like a promise fulfilled, and I couldn't suppress the tender smile that curved my lips as I traced the faint bruises left by his fingertips. The memory of his hands, both possessive and gentle, sent a shiver down my spine, igniting a fire deep within me.

The clock's ticking reminded me of the day moving forward, its steady beat a soundtrack to my swirling thoughts. I would love to lie here all day in post-orgasmic bliss, but Sandy expects me to figure out how to escape the mansion so we can lay low in San Francisco. The thought of our plan felt like a distant dream now, blurred by the unexpected tenderness of Aleksandr and the unsettling truth of our situation. I needed to stay sharp, but the lure of Aleksandr's presence was a potent distraction.

Before I could devise a plan, a knock on the door broke my reverie. Nikolai's voice, deep and reassuring, called out, "Talia, are you decent?"

"Come in, Nikolai." I greeted him with a sincere smile. Despite being one of my guards in this makeshift prison, he's a nice man. His presence was a strange comfort amidst the chaos.

"Aleksandr needs you. Come." Nikolai led the way to the examination room where Aleksandr was waiting.

"What's going on?" I questioned, my eyes narrowing suspiciously as I studied his face.

"Sit," Aleksandr ordered, pointing to the examination table. The authoritative tone in his voice left little room for argument.

"Why? What's happening? I feel fine." Crossing my arms over my chest, I stood my ground, ignoring how his eyebrows snapped together in irritation.

Before he could respond, Dr. Daria entered with her usual air of brisk efficiency, dressed in a pristine white button-down shirt and black pencil skirt. Her presence was calming and intimidating, a paradox that made her an excellent doctor.

"Talia," she greeted cheerfully. "How are you feeling?"

"Hi, Dr. Daria. I'm surprised to see you here." I couldn't help but feel a pang of anxiety.

"I was in the neighborhood, so I decided to check on you." She smiled softly, placing a stethoscope on my chest. "Breathe in. Good, now breathe out slowly. Good. So, tell me how you're feeling today."

"Well, my shoulder is slightly sore, but other than that, I feel good." I glanced at Aleksandr sheepishly, hoping Dr. Daria didn't see the faint bruises he left on my body this morning. The memory of how it felt when he pinned me down on the bed heated my core.

"Let's take a look at your shoulder." After a cursory examination of the wound, she moved on.

Dr. Daria's gaze flickered to her notes, and the question weighing heavily on my mind spilled out. "Is that the paternity test?" I asked tentatively.

"It is," she replied calmly, her eyes steady and reassuring.

I watched Aleksandr closely, trying to discern any hint of anticipation. As usual, his features were a mask of controlled composure, but a flicker of emotion betrayed him for a split second.

"The test confirmed the baby's father is Aleksandr. Congratulations," she said, holding her hand out to Aleksandr.

The confirmation was reassurance that Aleksandr was indeed the father. I caught a fleeting glimpse of a smile tugging at his lips, quickly concealed behind his usual mask of solemnity. Relief washed over me, mingled with the lingering uncertainty of our complicated circumstances.

"Would you like to know the sex of the baby?" Dr. Daria asked expectantly.

"No," I blurted.

"Yes," Aleksandr remarked at the same time.

Dr. Daria chuckled. "Alright, let's have a look, and I promise not to tell you if it's a boy or girl, Talia."

I held my breath as the ultrasound machine hummed softly, the screen illuminating with the delicate flutter of a heartbeat. That's my baby. Our baby. A warm feeling rushed over me as I watched the screen. I'm going to be a mom. The thought filled a hole in my heart that I didn't know existed.

Aleksandr caught me peeking at him from under my lashes and smiled softly. "The baby has a strong heartbeat," he declared. "He will be a strong Avilov heir."

"And if it's a girl?" I teased, my voice lightening the tension in the room.

"She will be just as strong as a boy." He smiled brightly from across the room, his eyes shining with a rare warmth.

"The baby is healthy," Dr. Daria announced. "Everything looks good." She handed me a napkin, and I wiped the clear gel off my belly. Sitting up, I adjusted my clothes and waited for Dr. Daria to turn off the machine.

"Take it easy and rest. Your shoulder is healing but will take time to heal completely." Placing her hands on her hips, she focused on Aleksandr. "Is Talia eating and drinking enough? Getting enough sleep?" she asked, sucking on the inside of her bottom lip.

"Yes, she is a very good patient, listening and following orders." His heated gaze zeroed in on me, and I felt another blush tinging my cheeks pink.

"I'll be back next week. Talia, call me if you need anything." Dr. Daria gently squeezed my shoulder, excused herself, and left the room.

Aleksandr turned to me with a heated determination in his eyes. "You will stay here, with me, indefinitely," he declared with authority.

I bristled instinctively at the presumption, pushing against his decree. "I can't just—"

"You can, and you will. You are carrying my heir, meaning you will live here and raise the child here. That's final."

"You can't force me to stay here, Aleksandr! I have a home with Sandy." Sliding off the table, I stomped to him, leaving barely an inch between us. My hands were balled into fists at my sides, my fingernails digging into my palms. "I am not your prisoner," I growled, squaring my shoulders and looking him directly in the eyes.

Looming over me, he bent his head slightly. His ice-blue eyes burned into me. "You are mine . The baby is mine . This is where you belong, so get comfortable," he ground out through clenched teeth.

Who the hell does he think he is?! Red-hot anger bubbled just below the surface of my skin. I began trembling, unable to control the desire to slap him so hard his grandchildren would feel it. Time slowed down as tunnel vision took over. I felt like I was moving in slow motion as I raised my hand to deliver the slap of the century. Halfway through, he grabbed hold of my wrist, spinning me around and wrapping his arms around me. With my back to his chest, he securely pinned my arms to my sides. Tears pricked the back of my eyes as I cursed and struggled against his hold.

"Talia, stop." His tone was authoritative but gentler than it had been a moment ago.

"No! Let me go, you asshole !" He held me in place without much effort, his muscular build and height overpowering me. Struggling to escape his hold was futile, but I struggled anyway.

"Talia, stop." His tone was calmer as he whispered in my ear. "You're going to hurt the baby."

That got my attention. I stopped struggling, but the weight of the situation was too much for me to bear. Tears stung my eyes as I choked on sobs. So much has happened, and I'm not in control of any of it. A killer is after me, I'm pregnant, Aleksandr is a mob boss, and I'm being forced to stay away from Sandy. My body went limp in his arms.

"Talia, what do you need?" he asked gently, loosening his grip on me.

Turning around, I buried my face in his chest. His simple question caught me off guard, and before I could censor myself, I blurted out the most absurd craving as pregnancy hormones took over. "Pickles and ice cream."

To my surprise, Aleksandr chuckled—a deep, rumbling sound—dispelling the tension like a gentle breeze. "Consider it done." He stroked my hair, kissing the top of my head.

"You're not a prisoner here, Talia. You are the mother of my child, and I will do everything and anything to keep you safe and make you happy. This is your home now."

I breathed deeply, appreciating Aleksandr's gentleness.

"Come," he encouraged, "let's get you back to your room."

Guiding me back to my bedroom, he fluffed up the pillows and tucked me into bed. "I'll have Abram deliver your snack," he chuckled.

"Can he bring enough ice cream for me and the children?" Not wanting to be alone, I hoped I could entice the children to keep me company.

"Of course, dushenka ." Kissing me tenderly on the cheek, he ordered me to rest.

After he left, I lay there collecting my thoughts. Maybe Aleksandr is right. Perhaps I do belong here with him. He is the father of my baby, and I have no doubt he will protect us. It might be nice to have him take care of us. Besides, I can't deny my feelings for him, as much as I'd like to ignore them. And once he takes care of Mikhail's killer, I'll be able to see Sandy.

Moments later, the door swung open to reveal Sasha and Maxim, accompanied by Olga.

"Look what we have!" Sasha squealed. Her face lit up at the sight of the extravagant ice cream sundaes, complete with a side of pickles. Olga placed the tray on my bedside table with a warm smile before slipping away silently.

"These look delicious."

Sasha handed me a sundae and then took one herself, cuddling beside me on the bed. Maxim took the third sundae off the tray and got comfortable on the chaise.

"We're going to the fancy ice cream shop soon," Maxim declared eagerly, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

"It's so much fun there!" Sasha interrupted. "They have a gazillion flavors of ice cream, and you can taste as many as you want."

"That's not a real number," Maxim teased. "But they do have an awful lot. Three counters full!"

"It sounds delightful." I smiled warmly at them, my worries momentarily forgotten in the glow of their excitement. Together, we indulged in the decadent treats, the sweetness of the ice cream mingling with the tang of the pickles. This strange but oddly satisfying combination mirrored the complexity of my life. Surrounded by the innocent joy of the children and the promise of a simple pleasure like a trip to get ice cream, I savored the moment—a moment of tranquility amidst the storm brewing on the horizon.